RIYADH: Graham Gunn and David McGlashan emerged big winners on a day where familiar names took home the major prizes on Friday in the 3rd Annual Saudi Hollandi Bank Open Golf Tournament 2014 at Dirab Golf & Country Club.

South African Gunn, going great guns on the immaculate greens of the flat tree-lined golf course on the outskirts of Riyadh, clinched the overall Best Gross title with a 3-over 75.

“I was putting well and made nice long putts. Dirab is a fantastic place to come with good conditions that made it easy to play,” said the 45-year old Gunn.

It was the second individual stroke play victory this season for Gunn, assistant GM Personal Banking at Saudi Investment Bank, who won the Sinoma tournament in February in addition to his victories with David Treadgold in Xerox and Zahid Tractor two-ball Texas Scramble events.

McGlashan, a 26 handicap southpaw British golfer who is the lead electrical engineer at WorleyParsons Co., pretty much outdid himself when he posted a sparkling round of 68.

The suspense didn’t end there as Glashan had to win on countback by comparing back nine scores with three others for the overall Best Net crown.

Khaled Raja, Filipinos Joe Vallado and Sonny Acance all matched Glashan’s score but the Briton trumped them with a back nine tally of 40 to Raja’s 44 and 46s by Vallado and Acance.

Pakistani Raja settled for the men’s Third Division (19-28 handicap) title ahead of Vallado who claimed second place from Acance but not after their ties were broken all the way to the last three holes.

Another Filipino with a winning record at Dirab, Alex Arellano, was level par coming home as he retained the men’s First Division (0-9) title on 72 following a countback with Dan McLanghlin with FGA President Resty Sibug taking the third place on 75.

Oscar Domingo underlined a big day for the Filipinos, winning the Second Division (10-18) and an HP notebook in the raffle draw.

In ending his victory drought at Dirab Domingo topped South African Mark Campbell and Gareth Morris in the countback after they tied on 69s. Campbell, also among familiar names to grace the winners’ list, took second place and Morris third position.

Liz Kennedy was without competition in the Ladies Division as usual, shooting 6-under 66.

Filipino engineer Jay Japos won the straightest drive award along with a raffle prize of a fairway wood. To Saad Anwar and Carol Cormack went the longest drive awards for the men’s and ladies division.

Gunn shot nines of 38-37 highlighted by four birdies including on No. 17 where he dumped a 6-iron approach to 15 feet and made the putt.

On 11 Gunn faced a 20-foot putt from the left of the green. He made the putt and followed this with another from long range on 12 for back-to-back birdies. His other birdie was on par-3 seventh hole.

With a 9 handicap, Gunn could have also won overall Best Net on 66 were it not for a one major prize rule.

Bernd Van Linder, managing director of Saudi Hollandi Bank, attended the prize distribution ceremony and announced commitment of SHB to sponsor next year’s tournament. SHB head of marketing and corporate communication Mohamed Al Muwannas and the marketing team were also present.

For his part, golf course owner and former president of Saudi Golf Federation Khaled Abunayyan thanked Saudi Hollandi Bank for its support in the promotion of golf in the Kingdom.